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Your new added salad! It goes well with everything, complementing any dish. Includes homemade croutons (yes please!) and easy dressing!

why you’ll love this easy, simple side salad
- Goes with everything. This is just one of those side salads that is so easy to whip up, packed with maximum flavor, and will go well with everything (from chicken to pizzas to sandwiches to your favorite soups), balancing protein-rich main dishes with refreshing, crunchy, veggie-rich goodness.
- The recipe includes an all-purpose dressing. With only 5 ingredients, this simple all-purpose vinaigrette will be your favorite dressing for all your salads!
- It also works as an appetizer. Put it on, put it on! Add your desired protein (eg. grilled chicken or baked salmon) to turn it into an easy main dish.
- Salad to clean out the fridge. This is a great time to add any leftover vegetables and groceries like avocados, olives, celery, peppers, banana peppers, fruit, or anything else left in the fridge.
- The croutons are the best part. Homemade croutons are so crunchy, so garlicky and just so wonderful. That’s really the best part of this side salad—so good it’ll overshadow the main entree at dinner.

Basic ingredients in a simple garnish
Croutons
Homemade garlic croutons can be made with ciabatta, sourdough or baguette, baked until crispy and golden brown.
Universal vinaigrette
This 5-minute dressing requires just a handful of ingredients—extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
The green ones
Use leafy, hearty greens like romaine or prepackaged spring mix.
tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes are best for salads because they are smaller and bite-sized. Always use tomatoes that are firm to the touch to avoid a mushy, soggy salad.
cucumbers
Persian cucumbers have extra crunch and are small, sweet and firm with minimal seeds (and require no peeling). English cucumbers can also be used.
Carrot
Use a grater or food processor to grate or grate the carrots.
onion
Raw red onions are perfect for salads because of their crunchy, mild flavor.
Nuts
Add some crunch to your salad with almonds, pecans or walnuts. Toasted nuts will add even more robust flavors.
Parmesan
This recipe uses freshly grated parmesan cheese, but feta, gorgonzola, pecorino, cheddar, mozzarella, or goat cheese are great alternatives.

How to make a simple side dish
- Make the croutons. Using stale, healthy, day-old leftover bread (such as ciabatta, baguette, or sourdough), toast the bread cubes in olive oil, parser, and garlic until golden. Avoid overcrowding sheet pan for a crisp finish.
- Make the dressing. Mix all the ingredients for the dressing, storing in the refrigerator up to 1 week in advance. Always shake well before adding to the salad.
- Assemble the salad. Toss everything together, starting with only half the dressing and adding more to taste if needed.
- Serve. Serve immediately (preferably within 2 hours) with any main course to enhance your dinner – chicken, shrimps, steak, pork, pasta – all things.

Variations
Protein
Turn a salad into a meal by adding a protein like chicken, shrimps, steak, eggsor tofu.
grains
Add grains (such as quinoa, farro, couscous, wheat berries or brown rice) for a heartier and more filling salad.
Fruits
Berries, citrus, stone fruits and apples can be added for sweetness and texture.
Candied pecans
Swap the almonds for candied pecans.

what to serve with a simple side salad
- Weekday evening chicken breast with lemon
- How to cook Ribeye steak
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Quick Chicken Alfredo
- One pot shrimp with garlic butter and orzo
Tools for this recipe
Baking sheet
Simple Salad Dressing: Frequently Asked Questions
Romaine lettuce is a favorite (it’s crunchy, hearty, and holds up well to a variety of dressings), but iceberg and spring mix are also solid options here.
Extra virgin olive oil is a key ingredient in salad dressing over regular olive oil. It is the highest quality oil, unrefined and cold pressed, and offers the most flavor. Regular olive oil is more processed and mild, ideal for high heat cooking.
yes The dressing can be made 1 week in advance and stored in an airtight container (such as a mason jar) and place in the refrigerator, allowing to reach room temperature for about 15 minutes and shaking well before use.
First wash and dry the vegetables well and add the dressing just before serving.
Homemade croutons can be stored for at least 1 week, stored in an airtight container (to retain their crispiness) in a cool, dry place.


A simple salad with a side dish
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Equipment
ingredients
For the croutons
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped leaves of fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 cups ciabatta bread cubes, baguette or sourdough
For universal dressing
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For salad
- 1 the head Romanian salad roughly chopped
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 2 Persian cucumbers sliced
- 1 carrot grated
- ¼ a small onion thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup slivered toasted almonds
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
For the croutons
-
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
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In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, parsley, and garlic powder; season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Stir in the olive oil mixture and gently toss to combine. Place in oven and bake until crisp and golden, about 13-15 minutes; put aside
For universal dressing
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In a medium bowl, whisk olive oil, vinegar, Dijon, oregano, and garlic powder; season with salt and pepper to taste.
For salad
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To assemble the salad, place romaine in a large bowl; top with tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, onions, almonds, parmesan and croutons. Pour half the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine. Serve with remaining dressing, if desired.
video
Notes
- Romaine lettuce is best. Romaine is a hearty, fresh, hardy green that holds up very well to dressings. If you don’t have romaine lettuce, use iceberg lettuce or spring mix.
- Homemade croutons help a lot. Homemade croutons are a lot easier to make than you think, allowing you to repurpose old leftover bread, and are much tastier than store-bought croutons. They can also keep for at least 1 week when stored properly!
- Use a good quality tray. A durable tray is ideal for making homemade croutons – it will last for years with minimal wear and will help achieve even cooking and avoid warping at high temperatures.
- Prepare in advance. Save time by making the dressing up to 1 week in advance and preparing and dicing the vegetables 1-2 days in advance and storing them in airtight containers in the fridge.
- Bag mix is a quick shortcut. Packaged salad mix is pre-washed, pre-chopped greens, which conveniently cuts prep time even further.
- Cut to the same size. Cut all salad ingredients into equal-sized pieces for a consistent bite.
- Use extra virgin olive oil. High quality extra virgin olive oil is perfect for salad dressings for maximum flavor.
- Mix everything just before serving. Prevent wet greens! Toss the dressing just before serving, within 5-10 minutes to maintain a crisp texture, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper to taste.



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Shirley
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